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Good day... And a Terrific Tuesday to you! A very long day back in the saddle yesterday for your Pfennig writer. So, I'm dragging the line a bit today... Plus getting in and out of a regular car, for someone with my handicap is not something you'd want see or do! It's a pain! But... My car is in the shop... I certainly hope they get it fixed soon, as that's the vehicle we use to pull our camper to Table Rock Lake! And... We "were" going to leave on Sunday!

Well... Yesterday morning, I told you the currencies, for the most part, were flat... That didn't last too much longer... The U.S. printed, what the media and markets thought was a fabulous New Home Sales report, and the rally in risk assets was "on"! With stocks and currencies in rally mode, Gold and Silver backed off... I'll talk about that trading theme we've seen lately in a minute, but first... Let's talk about the Housing data...

It's true that the New home sales in June jumped 23.6% to 330K units from May's downwardly revised record low of 267K units. The rise beat market expectations for an increase to 312K units.

The better-than-expected rise in new home sales in June follows the large downward revision to the previous month's already record low, but still represents the second lowest pace of new home sales since records began in 1963.

Think about that for a minute, folks... Whenever you see a piece of data print and it looks too good to be true, it probably is. First you have to see what the increase is compared to, in other words, what time frame... Because anything that does year-on-year, will be comparing current data to the "absolute worst data" in the depths of the current recession, before the Government spending, stimulus, and economic "tricks" began to get played...

And let's not forget that to sell those homes, builders had to slash prices once again... The average price for a new home has now fallen to 2003 levels... Although I don't like to talk about this, but the price slashing does go along with my call that home prices will continue to fall... UGH!

So... Everyone was all excited about the New Home Sales data, but forgot to look under the hood... I really don't think that getting all excited about the 2nd worst pace of New Home Sales since records began in 1963, is anything to get me all lathered up!

BUT! The euphoria got the risk assets of stocks and currencies rallying again, so what-ev-er!

Now, let's come back to the trading theme that we've seen recently regarding the euro and Gold... Both are offsets to the dollar, so when you see the euro in rally mode, it only makes sense that Gold should be in rally mode too... But that's not been the case recently... Give or take a day here and there, when these two didn't trade this way... If the euro rallies, Gold declines VS the dollar... It's as if the markets are saying, "we don't need Gold, if the euro is going to chase the dollar"...

But, I've got news for these knuckleheads... The euro is NOT out of the woods, and to put all your eggs in the euro's basket, instead of allocating some to Gold's basket, is just not a wise move, in my opinion...

Eventually, this trading theme will correct... Which means these two (Gold and euros) will return to trading side-by-side VS the dollar... When? I have no idea... But it will happen, that... I'm sure of!

Speaking of the euro... I saw it break above 1.30 a few times yesterday, only to be shot down.... Which reminds me of a great 70's song... I don't wanna be lonely Don't wanna be, be shot down, be shot down!

The euro has broken above 1.30 this morning, while I've been typing my fat fingers to the bone, let's see how long it remains there this morning before being "shot down"...

After the New Home Sales data yesterday, and the risk assets of stocks and currencies began to rally, it meant that those currencies that received all the love during the "risk off" days, like dollars, yen, and Swiss francs, all were sold... And are weaker this morning.

The Canadian dollar / loonie sure isn't weaker! The Loonie is back above 97-cents VS the dollar to the south of Canada. I don't know if you chart the Oil price that I include in the currency round-up each day, but if you don't, you'll want to know that Oil is back above $79 this morning, which has been a steady climb for the past couple of week. And any time the price of Oil is rising, we should see the bias for a stronger loonie!

Speaking of bias... The South African Rand is on a tear lately, as it recovers to a 3-month high... I did see something that caught "my eye" yesterday... And that is that S. African unemployment was 25% WOW! That's awful! But at least they come out and say so! Here in the U.S. we have unemployment near those levels, but the Gov't only reports it to be 9%... Go figure...

There are all kinds of rumors swirling around the markets today about the Brazilian real, and whether or not the Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) is going to step in to stem the real's two month rally. The BCB could intervene and sell reals, in an attempt to keep the currency from getting too strong. You know where I stand on this, folks... It's wrong! It's wrong for a Central Bank to debase its own currency, and if they sell it, doesn't it send the message to the markets that they don't want it, so why should you?

So... Let's hope the BCB keeps out of the intervention game for the real has wild enough swings day-to-day, it sure doesn't need its central bank adding to the volatility!

Yesterday, I just kept seeing headline after headline about how the Eurozone Bank Stress Tests weren't tough enough... However, I did see something from Deutsche Bank, that led me to believe that at least Deutsche Bank was on terra firma... Deutsche Bank printed a better than expected 2nd QTR earnings report, but more importantly, they also revealed their holdings of debt from the (GIIPS)... Deutsche Bank confirmed that their exposure to this debt was minimal...

Now... Isn't that interesting... The rumors were that German Banks held tons of GIIPS debt, but a bank as large as Deutsche Bank said their exposure was minimal...

Then there was this... I saw this while going through the Wall Street Journal... The title is: "A Taxing Divorce"... "U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke have been in sync on most issues during the past three years, but recent comments from the officials suggest they are on opposite sides of a tax issue, according to The Wall Street Journal. Bernanke told lawmakers that he supports continuing tax rates that expire early next year. Geithner, on the other hand, said those tax rates should be allowed to expire."

Interesting, eh? Yes, I saw a quote from Geithner about how the wealthy had to pay more taxes...

A memo to Tim Geithner... If you pay them, I'll pay them...

To recap... The risk assets of currencies and stocks rallied yesterday after New Home Sales data captured the imagination of the markets. Gold followed the trading theme we've seen lately, selling off, when euros rally. Oil is back above $79, and that has the loonie in rally mode, and the rumors are swirling regarding Brazil's Central Bank and whether or not they will attempt to stem the real's recent rise.

That's it for today... I was "lost" last night with no Cardinals game... So I watched a bit of the Tigers and Rays... Both pitchers took no-hitters into the 6th inning. The Rays' pitcher (Garza) pitched a complete game no-hitter. The Tigers' pitcher was from my beloved Missouri University, so it held my attention for a few minutes... It was good to get back yesterday, do truly miss everyone when I'm away... I leave again (hopefully) on Sunday for my summer vacation with the whole family, including little Delaney Grace! The lights just went out here in the office... Now they're back on... That was weird! Ok, with that I'll wish farewell for today, and hope your Tuesday is Terrific!